The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-12
A pRoH1nrrroN VICTORY.
Remarkable and Disgusting Scenes at the
Voting Places of Rome, Ga.


Remarkable and Disgusting scenes at the
Voting Places of Rome. Ga
Special to the Louisville Courer-Journal.
The prohibition election in Rome yesterday.
which resulted in overwhelming victory for
the dry ticket. has settled the question that the
remaining fourteen counties in which whisky Is
sold must go dry, and that before six months
Georgia will be absolutely dry Maine.
Rome is q city of twelve thousand inhabitants,
situated in Floyd. the most populous white
county in the State For more than forty days
the contest has ragged, growing fercer as the day
of election approached Two years ago last
February election was held resulting in a vic
tory forty for the .swetr ticket by several hun
dred majority 1t was felt however, at that time
and ever since that the result was not fair OK
preston of the peoples will. The election
had been called by the liquor men in midwinter.
There was no registration law. It was thought
that many illegal votes were cast, and a great
barbecue given by the saloon people or election
day attracted hundreds OF negroes to Rome;
hence when the Rev. Sam Jones's revival
CURED about two months ago it was but natural
that the question should again become promi-
nent Lt was felt that this question should be
fairly submitted to the people its merits.
pecialy as in the meantime the great contest
had been fought and won in Atlanta, and the
danger of fraud was greatly lessened by the reg
istration law now in force. So just before the
close of the revival conference of ministers
from all parts of the county was held, and it
YVES resolved to preach, pray and work for pro-
hibition
Petitions were drawn ND requesting the ordi-
nary to call an election at an early day. These
petitions were signed by more than one thousand
voters. The ordinary called election for July
9, and the contest opened in earnest An execu-
tive committee was organized, with D. b. Ham
ilton as chairman and Capt A. B. S. Mosely as
secretary. Shortly thereafter Young Mems
Prohibition Club was organized, with Hon. Sea-
born Wright as chairman aud Mr. Junius F. Hill
yer as secretary. Clubs also organized in
all parts of the county. Prohibition and anti
prohi bition meetings were held almost daily.
The columns of the Bulletin for prohibition and
Of 6oG at Wor cd
with arguments, pro and con, as well as with
person alities. which at times were rather bitter
The day opened bright and beautiful At sun
rise there were pray meetings at the churches,
which continued during the entire day. A large
number of business houses were closed, and the
city had Sunday appearance, except that the
streets were crowded with people By o'clock
in the morning the leading prohibitionists and
anti-prohibitionists had assembled at the
Apollo. Among the former scores of
Rome's fairest daughters and a large number of
children. The ladies and children took their
stand in front of the courthouse. little to the
left of the entrance, and mere they remained
with tireless patience throughout the entire
day. 1t a remarkable scene. Here
were aged mothers whose hair was sill
vered with the frosts of years, young maids
ana matrons and lovely children, all deeply in
terested in the result of the great contest.
Many men who assembled the courthouse steps
holding anti prediction tickets in their hands
wavered when they faced this living buwark of
women, and voted the prohibition tickets given
them oy fair hands The presence of the ladies'
e
dred votes for the prohibition The
singing of familiar hymns was a feature of the
days incidents Occasionally large bodies of
prohibition voters would march to the polls, and
these were greeted with cheers, waving of hand
kerchiefs and happy smiles of the ladies'
Mr.. J. B. Patton marched at E.he head of
forty-three voters. who were received with
thusiasm. little In the rear of the court
house booths were erected whore refreshments
were served by the ladies. Many flags and ban
ners were displayed. Among the inscriptions
were these
"a vote against the sale is a vote to save our
boy
mo saloon means more clothing and happi-
''For God and home and native land,
For truth and right we take our stand"
The ants used red flags without inscription
Nearly all the prohibitionists wore blue badges
and the ants red. From the first the contest
been cast in Rome precinct, and two-thirds of
these were for prohibition. Reports from the
county precincts showed handsome prohibition
majorities and the saloon people seemed
Respondent.
Towards noon they rallied somewhat and
paraded the streets with bands and banners.
The prohibltionists also paraded, aud their pro-
cession much larger than that of their OPP
ponents From noon until the polls closed there
were but few incidents of note. About 5 o'clock
the Forestville Prohibition ClubSmarched to the
polls in solid phalanx amid great cheering. In
the meantime, the ants had retired from the
contest in great measure. When the clock
struck the scene at the courthouse
was indescribab!e. 1t was known that pro-
hibtion had certainly carried, and it
only q question of majority. Probably 1000
mon, women and children were, assembled in
and around the courthouse, and cheer after
cheer rent the air. Many were overcome with
emotion and wept Such a scene was never be-
fore witnessed in Rome. Suddenly there was a
hush, and with DR.. Kendall and j. B. Gibbons
as leaders, the vast multitude sang Nearer my
God to Thee" followed by the doxoiogy. After
benedcton, the great crowd slowly dispersed.
The returns were being received at the court
house all night. Hundreds of people were
present, but perfect order prevailed. Notwith-
standing the great excitement. not single dig
turbance occurred When the vote was counted,
it was found that out of 1900 registered voters,
1886 had voted. OF these, ]. 428 were for pro-
hipition, and 908 against-a majority of $40 for